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Heisei 1 in the Western calendar
平成元年
=
1989
Year 1 (gannen 元年) of the Heisei era is 1989 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1989
Kanji form
平成元年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
H1
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
己巳 Earth Snake
Era position
Year 1 of 31
Heisei era (Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019)
Age today
Era-change year
Heisei 1 began on January 8, 1989. January 1 – 7, 1989 belongs to Shōwa 64.
How to read it
On coins and formal documents the year is written 平成元年 — the first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen, “origin year”), not 1年.
Quick conversion rule: Heisei year + 1988 = Western year (Heisei 1 + 1988 = 1989).
Convert another year
Any year from Meiji 1 (1868) onward. Everything runs in your browser.
Same Western year, different era
1989 is split between two eras because the era changed mid-year: Shōwa 64. Documents dated 1989 can therefore carry either name — check the month before converting.
Nearby years
Common questions about Heisei 1
What year is Heisei 1 in the Western calendar?
Heisei 1 (平成元年) is 1989. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to H1, and in kanji it is written 平成元年.
How do I convert a Heisei year to a Western year?
Add 1988. Heisei 1 + 1988 = 1989, and the same rule works for every year in the Heisei era (Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019).
How is Heisei 1 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 平成元年 — the first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen, “origin year”) rather than 一年. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 平成元年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Heisei 1?
1989 is the year of the Earth Snake (己巳) in the Japanese sexagenary cycle.
Is the Heisei era still used today?
No — the Heisei era covers Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019, so Heisei 1 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.